Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour, Read online

  Transcriber's note:

  Several typographical errors in the original edition have beencorrected. The following paragraphs are as they originallyappeared, with corrections noted in brackets.

  Chapter IV

  ["]'Hold on. Don't forget you are a scout, and that you've got to look for the good that is in every fellow, they say," laughed his companion.

  Chapter VI

  "Oh! no, it isn't that bad a case," laughed Paul, amused. "We ought to be able to handle things without going to such extremes. Besides, you know, I carried a number of those stout sticks into the gym the other day, and William amused himself fastening a lot of cloth around them, so that they look like the stuffed club we used in the ministrel [minstrel] show last Winter. William is just itching to use one on some poor wretch. Perhaps he might get the chance to-night. So-long, Jack."

  "I'm afraid so," returned his comrade, slowly; "and just as like as not they expect to give us trouble while we're in camp. Well," and his voice took on a vein of determination that told how he was aroused at the thought of what might happen; ["]there must be a limit to even the forbearance of a scout, you know; and if they push us too far, we will have to teach them a lesson!"

  "Where's Bobolink?" demanded the leader,[.]

  According [Accordingly] he now took a little piece of wood out of his pocket, also a steel nail, and with the latter tapped several times upon the bit of veneering. Immediately they saw the sitting boy begin to fumble, as thought [though] he might be getting something out of his pocket. Then came an answering series of staccato taps, soft yet clear.

  "I'm your candy!'["] came the reply, as the figure stood up at attention.

  Chapter VII

  "What's the matter in there? Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.

  Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life. Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget. And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].

  Chapter XI

  Paul pushed to the front just them [then].

  Chapter XIII

  "Two ought to be enough. Yes, bring a glim along; we may need it, for that moon isn't very bright to-night, and the trees make considearble [considerable] shadow."

  Chapter XV

  "He's gone, Ted!" whooped a voice; but it was not that of Monkey Egleston [Eggleston]; for that worthy was hardly in possession of enough breath to more than whisper.

  Chapter XVII

  "Sure I would, Paul. Please dont [don't] think I'm not wantin' to trust you, because I hold back. I want to think it all over by myself to-night. Perhaps in the mornin' I might tell you about it."

  Chapter XX

  "That," said Paul, "is one of our beliefs, sure enough. A scout must always be on the alert, or else he may miss many things that would give him valuable information. William, suppose you go on and spin your yarn in your own way. I saw what you did; but I'm glad I didn't cut in. Strike up, now, and then we'll move on again, for Dobbin is coming yonder.["]

  Chapter XXII

  "Say, that is mighty funny, "observed [funny," observed] Jack, after he had listened to the whole story.

  Chapter XXIV

  "Oh! rats!" exposulated [expostulated] his fellow scout. "Come off your perch, Jack, and talk sense. You make me think of an old Polly, just able to repeat things over and over. But to see us all down on our knees staring at that trail made me remember the alarm of poor old Robinson Crusoe when he found the footprint of the cannibal on his island."

  Chapter XXVII

  "Yes," interposed Bobolink, as he joined the group, and lowered his voice mysteriously; ["]I just heard Paul and Mr. Gordon talking about two more men that seem to be wandering at large up here. That makes three, you see, and none of 'em care to step into our dandy camp in the daytime. Boys, don't you see what an ugly look that has?"

  Chapter XXVIII

  Paul staggered after them. The wind was very strong, and it was impossible to walk in places without bending down almost to the earth. Besides, there seemed to be many braches [branches] torn from the trees flying through the air, so that it was perilous to life and limb to be abroad.

  Chapter XXIX

  This sort of an explanation just fitted in with what Paul had conjectured. He had found it hard to believe that Nuthin would be so frightened as to cling deperately [desperately] to the flying tent, when he knew that it was being carried off by the gale. He must have been an involuntary passenger of the airship that quickly ended its short flight in a neighboring tree.

  "That's good," declared Paul." "Feel [Paul. "Feel] around just above you. Can't you get hold of a branch or two, and hang on when I cut the rope? I want to keep you from falling when the support goes."

  The crash of falling trese [trees] could still be heard with every renewed furious blast. But just as Mr. Gordon had said, these sounds proceeded almost wholly from the lower region. That was the reason he declined to seek safety in that quarter, prefering [preferring] to push in the teeth of the blow, because the rocky shelters were to be found there.

  Chapter XXXI

  "Who's that?["] and accompanying the words came the scratching of a match.

  Chapter XXXII

  "Yes," roared the second man, shaking Paul vigorously, "pipe up and tell us that, 'less you want us to do somethin' you wouldn't like. What d'ye want with us? How'd you ever git in here; and who's along with you? Say, Hank, didn't I tell you I seen that chief of police down on the road that comes up here from Tatum? I bet he sneaked around, thinkin' we'd try to cut out that way, 'stead of in the direction of Stanhope. Reckon you don't ever wanter go there agin, eh?'["]

  "Here, light this, Jack, with that precious match!'["] he cried, after shaking the lantern to find out whether it contained any oil.